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Sunday 24 March 2013

Operation Varsity

Today marks the 68th anniversary of Operation Varsity, the largest single airborne operation of World War II.

My very recently deceased father took part in the operation as a member of 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery, and he was the only veteran who attended the special commemorative event held at Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum, in 2006.

He was treated as an honoured guest by the museum staff and the members of the 89th (Parachute)/317th (Airborne) Field Security Sections re-enactment group. The latter were portraying 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery at the event, and my father had several photographs taken with them.




At the time my father had not begun to show signs that he was developing dementia, and he thoroughly enjoyed the entire day. In fact it was probably one of the most enjoyable and memorable times that I ever spent with my father. He was reliving his youth ... and for a few brief hours he was eighteen again.

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting these photos Bob.It is great to see them and your father.
    best wishes
    Alan

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  2. Bob
    I had missed your past few postings and am only just catching up now. So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
    Best wishes at this difficult time.
    Phil

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  3. Hi Bob,

    Thank for sharing these with us Bob - seeing your father as an honoured guest is a special memory and one to treasure.

    All the very best,

    DC

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  4. Good that you have these pictures to connect people and their personal history, Bob.

    Thanks for sharing them with us.

    Phil

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  5. Bob, just seen your sad news. Deeply sorry for your loss.

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  6. Bob, just reading your last few posts, I'm very sorry so hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

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  7. Thanks for posting this Bob. I never met your father, but he sounds to have had an eventful life.

    Please accept Suzanne's and my condolences.

    Kind regards,

    Chris

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  8. Sounds like it was a great day for your dad, and a nice memory for you to cherish.

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  9. Those are fine photographs, Bob. What a great occassion to remember your father by. We all owe so much to your father and everyone in Britain, the Commonwealth and around the world from his generation. Very much thinking about you at this sad time. Best, Adam

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  10. Its great that you were able to take him there and share a great day and that the re-enactors and museum welcomes him.

    My Dad's war years would come back to him by movies or parades and the like right up to the end but luckily iyt was usually the good things he remembered and shared and only rarely the others.

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